Establishing+student+blogging+guidelines

 ( back to Blogging Handbook index )

3/4 Lonnie blogging guidelines (student generated) []

The //Tech Kids// site lists four main blogging guidelines for students ([]) 
 * 1) Think before you post - Use responsible and respectful language. Don't jeopardize your publishing privilege!
 * 2) Our writing is for many different people to see - Be proud of what you write!
 * 3) Use your best spelling and grammar - Get into good habits by practicing what you've learned.
 * 4) Your writing should be reflective - Include your thoughts and feelings to make your writing more personal and engaging.

21st Century Literacy Specialist at the //International School Bangkok// in Thailand, Kim Cofino, records on her //Always Learning//  website (  [] ) the following set of questions her grade 4 students came up with. They created the following list after a lesson and discussion focusing on responsible online behaviour and discussion. What to ask ourselves before we post anything online:


 * How will this affect my reputation (what people think of me)?
 * What will my friends or family think about me after they read (or see) this post?
 * Could someone find me (in real life) based on this information? [[image:http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTw9ywLhZk-ZyKnPD5Qd7zxrzKx9DBaQTergfpnp9eZZ5iMUv0w&t=1 align="right"]]
 * Who is going to look at this, and how are they going to interpret my words?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is this inappropriate, immature or bullying?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Could I hurt someone else's feelings with this post?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I say this to the person's face?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">What could be the consequences of this post?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">What will I cause by writing this post? Be culturally sensitive.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I want someone to say this to me?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do I have a good reason/purpose to do this?
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Is this something I want everyone to see?

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: larger;">They also made the following list of safety and responsibility tips to help them remember to follow the blogging guidelines outlined in their permission slip <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: larger;">.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, in other countries) to know
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think about the future – what will people think a few days, weeks, months from now, if they read your post;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't share personal information like: last name, mom's maiden name, address, telephone number, password, birth date, username, passport information, license plate number, picture of your face, full name of yourself or your friends
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Choose a complicated password for others, but easy for you to remember
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think before you post
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Use only your first or an avatar (made up name that represents you)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't talk to strangers. Get a parent or an older brother or sister to help you.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only say nice things about other people.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you think you will regret it, don't post it
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you wouldn't say it to a person's face, do not post it online
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Use appropriate language and good grammar and spelling
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think about your readers feelings (embarrassing) when you post online
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be culturally sensitive
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only post things that you can verify are true (no gossiping)

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: larger;">Kim Cofino also includes the following student guidelines:


 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, in other countries) to know. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Do not share personal information. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Could someone find me (in real life) based on this information? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Think before you post. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: What could be the consequences of this post? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Know who you're communicating with. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Who is going to look at this, and how are they going to interpret my words? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Consider your audience and that you're representing your school. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Do I have a good reason/purpose to do this? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. Know how to give constructive feedback. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: What will I cause by writing this post? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Would I want someone to say this to me? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Use appropriate language and proper grammar and spelling. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Would I want this post to be graded for proper grammar and spelling? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. Only post information that you can verify is true (no gossiping). **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Is this inappropriate, immature or bullying? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">10. Anytime you use media from another source, be sure to properly cite the creator of the original work. **//<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ask yourself: Who is the original creator of this work? //
 * <span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">11. Commenting Guidelines ** <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a blogger, you will be commenting on other people's work regularly. Good comments:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">are constructive, but not hurtful;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">consider the author and the purpose of the post;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">are always related to the content of the post;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">include personal connections to what the author wrote;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">answer a question, or add meaningful information to the content topic;
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">follow the writing process, comments are a published piece of writing.